Monte Fino 55 Used Boat Review

With sleek Euro-styling from the rakish bow to the cantilevered flybridge shading the cockpit, the Monte Fino 55 is just as at home in Cannes as Palm Beach.

The Monte Fino 55 has a top speed of 25 knots, and a comfortable cruising speed in excess of 21 knots. With 850 gallons of fuel and 230 gallons of water in stainless-steel tanks, this yacht is able spend long weekends away from civilization.

A sliding stainless-steel door opens to reveal a salon that is unbroken for the length of the superstructure. The aft portion of the area is devoted to an area for gracious entertaining, with an L-shaped couch to port, a cocktail table, and ample room for a comfortable easy chair. On the opposite side, a gently curving counter hides the television and entertainment center, as well as providing a perfect counter for buffets. Overhead, the recessed ceiling is an elegant touch usually reserved for much larger yachts and it allows for fixtures recessed in the sculptured soffit to provide muted indirect lighting.

At some point, every visitor runs their hands appreciatively over the glass-smooth woodwork and comments on the flawless cherrywood interior, and that theme is carried throughout the yacht, where examples of the furniture-maker's arts are found in all areas. Another surprise is that the air conditioning vents are painstakingly carved from wood to match the interior, a feature usually found only on megayachts.

Forward and up a step from the saloon, the command bridge has a large dinette to starboard that is not only close to the galley for food, but directly opposite the lower helm. This comfortable lounge area is perfect for guests and family to gather when the yacht is underway since it has excellent visibility, and the skipper won't feel left out, either.

The lower helm is comprehensively equipped with a deluxe package of Raytheon electronics (including radar, autopilot, GPS, VHF and depth/speed/log) all flushmounted in an oversized dashboard along with the engine instruments. From a comfortable seating position, the helmsman has an excellent view forward and to the sides, making this the ideal all-weather steering station.

Just a few steps down is the galley, which is truly a gourmet's delight. A spacious stand-up 21-cubic-feet. refrigerator (with water and ice in the door) is aft, and the stainless-steel double sink is also home sized. Sleek granite countertops provide ample space for meal preparation, the four-burner G.E. electric cooktop is flush-mounted, and a convection microwave is tucked under the counter.

Most visitors are amazed to find that the Monte Fino 55 has three spacious staterooms, but the master suite is truly palatial. Reached via private stairs from the saloon, it's one of the most popular features on the yacht. There's an island queen-sized berth with twin nightstands, a vanity to port, large hanging lockers to starboard, and more examples of fine woodwork. The en suite head also has granite counters and a circular shower with Lucite door. Given the sleek and stylish lines of the 55, many visitors are delighted to find the large aft stateroom, which provides privacy and separation from the guest accommodations unlike most sport yachts.

The two additional staterooms are forward, with a VIP suite featuring an island queen-sized berth surrounded by bureaus, twin hanging lockers, and an en suite head and shower. A third guest stateroom is to starboard with twin berths, and it also has private access to yet another head (with shower), which doubles as a day head for guests.

When not enjoying their staterooms, the owners and guests are likely to be on the flybridge, which has all the features found on the 65. There's an L-shaped settee with high-low table behind the Pompanette helm seat, and a Jenn-Aire grill is to starboard, along with a wet bar and refrigerator/ice maker. The helm has a full array of instrumentation and Raytheon electronics, as well as superb sight lines to make maneuvering the 55 a cinch in tight quarters. Aft, the boat deck has ample space for a tender and davit.

Standard power on the Monte Fino 55 is a pair of Caterpillar 3196E diesels rated at 660 HP each, and the engineroom was obviously designed to make maintenance easy. There's plenty of room for the 20kW Onan generator in a sound box, as well as six individual CruiseAire air conditioning units to provide complete zone flexibility for comfort. Entry is from the foyer aft, and there's ample headroom inside as well. Knowledgeable yachtsmen will be impressed by the careful manifolding of the fuel system, as well as the neatly laid out electrical system.

Construction is to full ABYC standards (the factory is certified to the strict ISO 9000 codes), and few yachts this size can claim a one piece hull and deck (hand-laid of roving and Knytex), which eliminates the joints that are often a cause of leaks. Equipment is also important, and the Monte Fino has Hynautic hydraulic steering and engine controls, a Racor fuel system, Newmar battery charger, and VDO gauges.

The innovative layout is certainly a selling point for the Monte Fino 55, but the high level of detailing is an unseen but valuable indication of real quality. From the teak and holly sole throughout the yacht to the molded non-slip deck finish, from the custom electrical panel to the all copper plumbing for the water system, it's readily apparent that Monte Fino isn't cutting corners even when something isn't visible.

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